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Definition of lonely

lonely

/ˈloʊnli/
Adverb:lonelily
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lonely Lexical Profile

lonely Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Sad or unhappy because one has no friends or company; feeling isolated and longing for companionship.

Example

"Moving to a new city where she knew no one left her feeling deeply lonely during the first few months."

2

Without companions; Marked by a lack of social interaction or shared experience.

Example

"Writing a doctoral dissertation can be a long and lonely endeavor requiring hours of independent study."

3

Unfrequented by human beings; remote, desolate, and isolated (of a place or road).

Example

"The old lighthouse stood on a lonely stretch of rocky coastline miles from the nearest village."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lonely
Antonyms
View all antonyms for lonely

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'alone' simply describes the physical state of being by oneself, 'lonely' conveys a negative emotional feeling of sadness or longing for companionship; furthermore, despite ending in '-ly', 'lonely' functions strictly as an adjective rather than an adverb.

• Rhymes for lonely

• Nearby Words

london planetree
lone
loneliness
lonely
loner
lonesome
lonesomely

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 16th century (notably used by William Shakespeare), formed from the shortened adjective 'lone' (from Middle English 'allone', meaning 'all one') combined with the adjectival suffix '-ly'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lonely. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lonely
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